In this RSS village, vision is focused, sharp and narrow

It is here, in Mohad, that you see the strengths and weaknesses of the RSS summed up perfectly. You see how its cadres find it dificult to adjust to India’s diversity. And yet, they have worked selflessly for years to bend a population to their will and to fight for the BJP—as instructed—even though they feel the party has deviated from their ideals.

Meanwhile, Mohad strives for its own brand of perfection. It even wants to set up an award for the ‘‘adarsh Hindu ghar (ideal Hindu home)’’. The requirements include tulsi in the courtyard and wadeshi in the kitchen.

Chauhan, who founded a shakha way back in 1947, has even managed to stamp out untouchability. The temples are open to all, and handpumps barred to none. This has made Mohad an RSS showpiece, the model emulated in 60 other Prabhat villages in the country, and the 353 Uday villages on their way to becoming Prabhat villages. Sudarshan has been here, so has Govindacharya.

But ask Chauhan about India Shining and he smiles and chooses to talk about other matters. Accompanying him on the tour of the village is Yogindra Singh, one of the leading lights of the Tiger Yuva Mandal, an NGO that seems to have been set up to let the RSS cadre access government funds. It is Yogindra who answers for Chauhan, ‘‘We feel that the slogan has skipped a step. India will indeed shine if certain steps are taken first.’’

And the steps? Simple enough to be obvious but so far ignored by the NDA, especially in states such as Andhra. They include reasonable rates of interest for farmers and better health and education facilities. And, of course, electricity.

‘‘These are two months when the sugarcane farmers need electricity,’’ says Chauhan. Yet, power supply in the region has been cut to four hours a day, with Mohad’s special status ensuring it six hours. That brings politics into the picture.

Chauhan is not keen to talk politics, but with the elections in Madhya Pradesh threatening to be much closer than earlier anticipated, his cadres will fan out to pitch in for the BJP. ‘‘The RSS is the air that has always filled the BJP’s balloon,’’ says Chauhan with a smile.

That is not always an advantage as the cadres sometimes refuse to acknowledge even the existence of other religions. As he speaks of opening temples to all, Chauhan says that there are no masjids in the village. ‘‘In any case, the Muslims here are not really Muslims,’’ he explains.

The Indian Express learns that there are, in fact, 84 Muslims in the village, and they go to the Kareli mosque, some 3 km away. The village painter, a tribal who makes deities, drops by to see Chauhan. There is a cross dangling from his neck. Chauhan later says that the man is not really a Christian. ‘‘You know why he wears that cross? As a Gond many people may not allow them into their house to paint, but as a Christian he won’t have any problems.’’

It’s clear there are some aberrations on the canvas where this model village has taken shape. Soon Chauhan will know whether these will change the picture.